Mint
Choosing a mint variety
Mint comes in a huge variety. Some varieties are best suited to cooking and drinks, while others are grown more for their beauty or smell. Most commonly used for cooking is spearmint, while heart mint is best suited to mojitos. Varieties such as chocolate mint or monkey mint are great smelling but may not be great in food.
Where can you grow mint?
Mint thrives best in a warm, sunny spot, but also does well in partial shade. Once mint is established, it spreads widely, preferably through root shoots. That’s why it’s important to enclose it (if you grow it outdoors) – we usually bury a pot around it so that the roots can’t spread.
Mint works well in the garden, as well as in pots on the balcony or indoors. It is also a plant that is well suited to so-called hydroponic cultivation. Putting mint in an old stone vessel and placing it in the garden can look very nice!
Sowing mint
The easiest and quickest way to grow mint is to take cuttings or roots from a friend. But if you want more choice of variety and more growing pleasure, you should grow from seed.
If you want to make sure you get a good harvest and that the plant has time to establish itself properly before winter, pre-cultivate indoors. If you sow outdoors in May or June, you also have a good chance of a good result.
Pre-cultivation and sowing in pots
Sow mint in small pots or plug trays in early spring. Use sowing soil and cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil (or with perlite for best results). The plants should be kept moist and when the first character leaves appear, the mint should be retrained into larger pots. Plant out when the risk of frost is over. Harden off your plants before final planting.
The mint has no major nutritional requirements, but a little grass clippings or compost can be a good idea. However, it’s important that the mint doesn’t dry out, as it can lose its flavour – so water it well.
If you’re growing in a pot indoors, follow the same procedure as above, but move to a larger pot when the plants are about five centimetres high. Mint can be grown all year round indoors, but will need plant lighting during the winter months to continue to thrive.
Harvesting mint
Once your mint is established and viable, you can start harvesting. Pick the top shoots to keep the mint nice and dense. It also prevents the mint from flowering and losing its flavour.
Before winter, you can harvest any remaining mint. Dry or freeze the mint to use during the dark season. If you are growing in a pot, you should keep the pot protected from frost.
Using mint
Mint is not only good with mojitos and lamb – although it is of course many people’s favourite.
Mint is widely used in Lebanese, Persian, Vietnamese and other cuisines. A mint yoghurt sauce, for example, is perfect for a mezze buffet. The mix of mint, coriander and parsley creates a lovely flavour combo for both stews and sauces.
Why not try your hand at creating your own summer drink? Or, do as we do and simply use the mint to turn an ordinary jug of water into something festive!
Author: Johanna Damm
Fact-checked by Erik Hoekstra
Last updated 2022-10-14